Was reported high in Ian Lipkin study (see this post).
“This genus [Pseudoflavonifractor] is one of the most prominent butyrate producers, providing energy to the colonic mucosa and known to regulate gene expression, inflammation, differentiation, and apoptosis in host cells (Luo et al., 2013).”
“We also performed species classifications and found Holdemania filiformis and Pseudoflavonifractor capillosus to be increased and decreased in the PPI cohort, respectively.” [2016]
This is a rare bacteria occurring in only 1.7% of all uBiome samples. Any bacteria genus < 5% I view as a probable overgrowth that should be reduced as a secondary target.
“To date, A. urinale and A. massiliense have only been described in a few cases of human pathology, including urinary tract infections. ” [2016]
“. Thus, A. schaalii has often been considered as a nonpathogen bacterium or a contaminant. Its pathogenicity is now well described in urinary tract infections, and infections in other sites have been reported. ” [2016]
“Actinobaculum sp. HOT 183 was detected at 5.6% in the low-sugar group and at 6.9% in the reference group.” [2017]
” randomized controlled trial of 91 adults with moderate gingivitis was designed with two anti-gingivitis regimens: the brush-alone treatment and the brush-plus-rinse treatment. and dental scaling…Only Actinobaculum, TM7 and Leptotrichia were consistently reduced by all the three treatments, ” [2016]
Antibiotics:
“The identification of this uropathogen is all the more important because it is resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and second-generation quinolones that are widely used in the treatment of UTIs. Antimicrobial therapy using β-lactams prolonged for up to 2 weeks is the most efficient treatment and should be recommended.” [2016]
“When an infection caused by A. schaalii is suspected, there is a risk of clinical failure by treating with ciprofloxacin or co-trimoxazole, and β-lactams should be preferred. In addition, acquired resistance to fluoroquinolones more active against Gram-positive bacteria is possible.” [2010]
This is a rare bacteria occurring in only 1.5% of all uBiome samples. Any bacteria genus < 5% I view as a probable overgrowth that should be reduced as a secondary target. It is found in Korean traditional fermented seafood, Jeotgal [src].
There are 40+ studies on PubMed. Most studies deal with it in soil.
Growing conditions:
“The optimal medium was composed of soluble starch 0.73%,peptone 0.68%,yeast extract 0.15%,FePO40.01%in sea water with the initial pH value of 8.0.” [2014]
A reader asked about this – is it helpful? is it worth the cost? Being a former general science teacher, there is really nothing to it. I taught it in my high school science classes. In fact, an ancestor was a favorite lens grinder for the early dutch microscope inventors. See wikipedia or Rice University page (where I borrowed the microscope image below from).
The main thing is that most MDs have stopped using microscopes and using one for dark-field is a bit of an alternative-fad.
“ME Medical Advisor Dr Andy Wright takes a look at new technology enabling ‘live’ blood analysis and asks ‘Could this help ME patients?” [Prohealth 2000] like 200 years new!
Below is a darkfield micrograph taken in 1910 [source]
There are two ways that a specimen can be viewed in a normal microscope:
Light passes thru the specimen
Light is shone on the sample — often from the side.
Video of what it takes to make an ordinary microscope into a dark field microscope
Dark Field and CFS
On the web you will find links to articles about using dark field with CFS. So exactly what did they find?
“this is certainly not a diagnostic tool for any one condition.’” [Prohealth 2000]
“Using Dark field microscopy you see the red blood cells of these people clumping together. This reduces the oxygen that they can supply to the tissues of the body.” [site] – Low oxygen is a known for CFS patients (hyper-coagulation)
“Bradford also claimed that the microscope was especially useful in detecting the spirochete that causes Lyme disease. Bradford promoted these methods through several publications as well as through symposia for medical doctors. Neither the device nor the three products had FDA approval, so they were not legal to market in interstate commerce..and admitted they were part of a conspiracy to commit mail fraud and to introduce misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. .” [devicewatch]
Bottom Line
Dark field microscopy is still used by medicine for certain conditions. It has been around for hundred of years (literally). Dark field video can produce an impressive presentation for a CFS patient when presented by a health professional well , “confirming a physical cause”. IMHO — it has no direct or indirect impact on remission. For the microbiome, dark field is not done — there are just two many species (over 2000 usually), many of which will die quickly when expose to oxygen. You cannot tell a bad strain from a good strain visually (or even identify the strain!)
If you look at the video below, which describes a healthy system and then imagine a dialog describing everything as evidence of infection and bacteria – you would be impressed and be a believer!
Does it have any apparent benefit to a CFS patient? None that I can identify- except reducing their savings.
Does it help with treatment?
A test helps with treatment only if it swings the decision to do a certain treatment from the normal default treatment. I can find no evidence that this alters (or authorizes) treatment. A Lyme tests known to produce false positives (because of reactivated EBV) does authorize/justify the use of antibiotics in CFS patients. This is now the system works.
Does it help with insurance and other claims?
If it is not accepted by traditional medical science, then it will be very unlikely to be significant for an insurance or benefit claim. If anything, it may cause the claim to be more critically (negatively) reviewed.
“There was a statistical significant difference (P < 0.05) in serum Se between control and patients (lower) groups in the region of Tübingen, Germany.” [1998]
” Blood Se and GSHPX activities rose in all patients [with muscular complaints] who received Se whereas those in control groups remained more or less constant throughout the study. Clinical assessment of muscular symptoms showed that approximately half of the patients in both trial groups and placebo groups responded to treatment.” [1981]
” serum selenium levels, slightly but not significantly correlated with serum magnesium, is normal.” [1994]
” no considerable difference with selenium levels of both groups [controls and patients with FM]” [2008]
“selenium and calcium were statistically significant [between controls and FM.] [2015]
My model of FM and CFS is that it is a dysfunction of the microbiome, here we find more significant findings:
”Epidemiological studies have suggested an inverse association between selenium levels and inflammatory boweldisease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis that can potentially progress to colon cancer.”[2015]
“Selenium deficiency is common in patients with severe gastrointestinal disorders. The deficiency is mainly related to malabsorption, and a low selenium level was almost invariably present in patients” [1998]
“This data, particularly from animal experiments, hold promise that adequate dietary Se supply may counteract chronic intestinal inflammation in humans.” [2014]
“New Zealand has one of the highest incidence rates of Crohn’sDisease (CD), whilst the serum selenium status of New Zealanders is among the lowest in the world.”[2012]
“Selenoprotein-P is a selenium-rich serum protein that carries more than 50% of serum selenium.. the serum selenoprotein-P level is decreased in patients with CD “[2005]
” Supplementation of selenium (100 microg/day) and zinc (10 mg/day) for 2 months significantly improved the trace element status in CD patients.” [2007]
And for probiotics and the microbiome:
“Selenium (Se) is an important micronutrient for many organisms, which is required for the biosynthesis of selenocysteine, selenouridine and Se-containing cofactor.” [2016]
” The results of RFLP showed that the faecal microbial flora in the selenium-enriched probiotics group changed the most (numerically) as compared to the Probiotic or sodium selenite group” [2015]
” Importantly, the nanoparticles showed strong growth inhibition toward S. aureus at a concentration as low as 1 ppm. . Interestingly, growth of E. coli was unaffected at all concentrations tested.” [2016]
“Bacterial cells usually possess low tolerance to selenite stress and also low ability to reduce high concentrations of toxic selenite. Here, high tolerance to selenite and selenium bioaccumulation capability were developed in mutated clones of probiotic and starter bacteria including Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis, Lactobacillus casei and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis by food-level strain development process and clone selection. All mutant clones possessed increased glutathione concentration and glutathione reductase activity.” [2015]
“Currently, the recommended amounts for adequate selenium intake of adults range between 25 and 100 μg/d (2)…The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is set at 300–450 μg Se/d (4)” [2015]
Infections
” Intriguingly, beneficial effects of selenium have almost exclusively been reported for infections by RNA viruses, whereas information on selenium and DNA viruses remains scarce.” [2015]
” Infection with a noncardiovirulent strain of Coxsackie B virus (CVB3/0) caused heart damage similar to human pathology only in selenium-deficient mice, whereas mice fed a selenium-adequate diet (0.2 ppm Se as selenite) were protected.” [2015] Cocackie virus is a CFS associated virus
“Combined pretreatment with selenium and the antibiotic ciprofloxacin for 4 wk was more effective than ciprofloxacin alone to prevent the development of chronic bacterial prostatitis in rats” [2015]
” In dairy cows, selenium deficiency has been associated with increased incidence and severity of intramammary infections by E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus;” [2015]
” Selenium is used by people in the prevention and/or treatment of different disorders including cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, stroke, atherosclerosis, cancer susceptibility and treatment, HIV, AIDS, neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, pancreatitis, depression, and diabetes amongst others… A number of clinical trials in recent years have provided convincing evidence of the central role of this element, either alone or in combination with other micronutrients or antioxidants, in the prevention and treatment of multiple diseases.” [2011]
Bottom Line
Selenium supplementation is recommended by me — based on the model — until such time that CFS studies are done and published. It appears to improve the performance of both antibiotics and probiotics and seem not to impact the bacteria families that are seen low in CFS patients. A maximum daily dosage of 250 μg Se/d should be discussed with your medical professional. There do not appear to be a need to rotate it.
Daily cost (based on Amazon pricing): $0.07/day or $2.10/month
CFS Remission 